(Originally published in Tournaments Illuminated #110, Spring 1994,
when Ealdormere was a principality of the Middle. Last updated October 19, 2003.)

Etcetera - The Kingdom of Ealdormere

Ealdormere was created as a Crown Principality of the Middle Kingdom in A.S. XXIII, and became a full principality in A.S. XXIV. It became the sixteenth kingdom of the SCA in September of A.S. XXXIII. The arms of the kingdom are Gules, a trillium flower affronty argent, barbed vert, within a laurel wreath, in chief a coronet argent.

Royal Peerages (County and Ducal) are accompanied by Patents of Arms, if the recipient does not already have one.

Grants of Arms are awarded at the pleasure of the Crown, generally for an outstanding achievement not encompassed by any of the following Grant-level orders:

Order of Thorbjorn's Hammer: given to those who exhibit excellence in a martial activity approved in Ealdormere, demonstrate a knowledge of related skills and/or other martial disciplines, demonstrate a leadership role in a martial activity, including a willingness to teach, present a reasonably authentic appearance, and provide an example of courtesy and chivalry worthy of emulation.
The order's badge is: Gules, a Thor's hammer within a bordure embattled argent.

Order of the Crucible: given to those who have demonstrated proficiency in a number of the arts and/or sciences.
given to those who have demonstrated skill in a variety of Arts and Sciences, including a high level (journeyman) skill in at least one discipline, demonstrated a knowledge of period techniques, the ability to research and the willingness to teach Arts and Sciences related skills, present a reasonably authentic appearance, and provide an example of courtesy and chivalry worthy of emulation.
Proposed badge: per pale argent and sable, an athanor counterchanged.

Order of the Wain: given for long and exemplary service that affects the realm in specific and in general setting a reasonably authentic and shining example to all the kingdom.
The order's badge is: Argent, a saltire pierced, on a bordure gules in cross four mullets argent

The titles of Court Baron and Court Baroness are given at the pleasure of the Crown to those who provide the gift of inspiration, uphold the ideals of the Society, present a reasonably authentic appearance and provide an example of courtesy and honour worthy of emulation. The title is accompanied by an Award of Arms if the recipient is not already armigerous.

Awards of Arms may be given at the Crown's pleasure, as well as in conjunction with the Mid-Level Awards:

Award of Merit for Arts and Sciences: given to those who have demonstrated skill in the arts and sciences and who demonstrate courteous and chivalrous behaviour.

Award of the Maiden's Heart: given to those who have performed exemplary service to Ealdormere and who demonstrate courteous and chivalrous behaviour. The order's badge is: quarterly azure and Or, a heart counterchanged.

Award of Orion: given to those who have demonstrated skill in the arts and sciences, and who demonstrate courteous and chivalrous behaviour.

Award of the Scarlet Banner: given to those who have demonstrated skill in a martial discipline approved within Ealdormere, and who demonstrate courteous and chivalrous behaviour both on and off the field.
Proposed badge: argent, a pile wavy gules.

Other kingdom awards and honors include:

Award of the Wolf's Cub: given to those children, age 12 and under, who have served beyond their years and set an example to others.

Award of the King's Favour: given as the King sees fit.

Award of the Queen's Favour: given as the Queen sees fit.

Order of the Rose: offered automatically, after their elevation to County rank, to those who have completed their reign as Consort.

Scroll of Honour: a record of the worthy deeds of the people and friends of Ealdormere, including, but not limited to, Kingdom awards and honors. It is added to at the discretion of the Crown.

The following former principality awards have been closed:

Order of St. Crispin (formerly the Order of the Peregrine): given to those who have by conspicuous and continuing effort improved their own skills of war and provided inspiration to others. These skills include, but are not restricted to, scouting, archery, and armoured combat. Companions of the order may place the initials CPE after their names, and may wear a medallion bearing the badge: (Fieldless) A wing terminating in a hand argent maintaining a sword fesswise reversed Or.

Order of the Golden Otter: given to those who have demonstrated proficiency in a number of the arts and/or sciences. Companions of the order may place the initials CGO after their names, and may wear a medallion bearing the badge: Purpure, an otter sejant erect contourny within a bordure Or.

Order of the Bee: given for long and exemplary service to the principality. Companions of the order may place the initials CB after their names. The order's badge is: Argent, a bee gules.

Award of the Princess' Favour (formerly Tangwystal's Favour): given to those who, in the consort's judgement, have captured the essence of the Middle Ages.

Award of the Wolf's Tooth: given to those who consistently demonstrate the ability to work well as a member of a team in the martial arts, including melee fighting, scouting, archery, and other activities that may be approved in the future. Recipients of the award may place the initials AWT after their names.

Friendship of the Trillium: given to those who have consistently lent support and guidance to the Coronet. Upon retirement, the consort of Ealdormere becomes a member of the Friendship, but membership is not restricted to past consorts. Members, called Friends of the Trillium, may place the initials FT after their names, and may wear a medallion bearing the order's badge: Purpure, a trillium argent barbed and seeded vert within a bordure embattled argent.

Keeper of the Wolf's Heart: given to those who inspire spirit and unity within the principality and/or promote the principality throughout the kingdom by the use of their skills. Members are called "Keepers of the Wolf's Heart."

This column was compiled from the Kingdom of Ealdormere web site, and originally from Middle Kingdom law and "The Honors of the Middle Kingdom", by Baroness Graidne ni Ruaidh. Assistance was provided by Lord Thorvald Redhair (Dragon Principal Herald), Lord Gwilym ap Alun (Trillium Herald), Lord Alan Fairfax Aluricson (Fenris Herald), Countess Genevieve du Vent Argent, Master Gareth Tancred Wilfreth, Lord Berwyn Aethelbryght of Ackley, Grimmund Blackwing, Lady Gwendolynn ferch Elydyr, and Mistress Caitlin Davies. The illustrations of award badges were provided by Mikhail of Lubelska.

Mistress Jessa d'Avondale (OP, Court Baroness, GoA, OSC, OM, OBT, QC, Terpsichore) is from the fifteenth-century Italian court, where she is studying the dance (including those peculiar ones from France and England). She resides in the East Kingdom. Marla Lecin (mlecin@optonline.net) invites anyone with updates or corrections to this article to contact her.